U.S. public vehicle records

1990 Gmc K3500: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1990 model year. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

1995: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 972651 · 1995-09-28 (September 28, 1995)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, TWO FIRES INVOLVING ELECTIRCAL SYSTEM. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 972651 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

90V170000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage

Reported: 1990-09-17 (September 17, 1990)

TRUCKS CAN CONTAIN INCORRECT INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PROPERLY ADJUST REAR SEAT LAP-SHOULDER BELTS AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 209.

Consequence: INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PROPERLYRESTRAIN OCCUPANT IN AN ACCIDENT OF SUDDEN STOP; TRUCKS WOULD NOT COMPLY WITHFMVSS 209.

Remedy: PROVIDE OWNER'S MANUAL INSERT CONTAINING THE CORRECT REAR LAP-SHOULDER BELT INSTRUCTIONS.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

93V016000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Reported: 1993-02-01 (February 1, 1993)

UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.

Consequence: THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID CAN CATCH FIRE IF EXPOSEDTO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Remedy: INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 1 records

100.0%Valid incident date1 / 1 records

100.0%Valid filing date1 / 1 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates1 / 1 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	2100.0% ODI 525547 DESIGN FLAW IN THE TRANSFER CASE LEVER ALLOWS FOR ACCIDENTAL ENGAGEMENT . Look up ODI 525547 at NHTSA ↗	150.0% ODI 544831 WHEN DRIVING DURING SNOW STORM ON A WET/SLIPPERY ROAD, THERMAL LINEAR ACTUATOR WHICH ACTIVATES THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM FAILED, DROPPING VEHICLE INTO TWO WHEEL DRIVE BEFORE DRIVERS FOOT WAS REMOVED FROM ACCELERATOR. RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. (IS NOTED IN A NEWS ARTICLE THAT COLD WEATHER TRIGGERS THIS CONDITION) Look up ODI 544831 at NHTSA ↗
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	266.7% ODI 8022269 CONSUMER STATE WINDSHIELD WIPER WOULD WORK INTERMIT WHILE IN USE. THERE IS A RECALL ON MAKE MODEL AND YEAR CONSUMER VIN DOSE NOT COMPILE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR Look up ODI 8022269 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 972651 ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, TWO FIRES INVOLVING ELECTIRCAL SYSTEM. TT Look up ODI 972651 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 834729 WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED LOST ALL POWER. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING.CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK Look up ODI 834729 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 834729 WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED LOST ALL POWER. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING.CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK Look up ODI 834729 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Seat Belts	1100.0% ODI 10554748 JUST BOUGHT THIS TRUCK & AM HAVING ISSUES WITH THE SEAT BELTS. THE SHOULDER STRAP DOES NOT STAY IN SECURE POSITION & DOES NOT WORK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE. WAS TOLD THIS WAS & IS A COMMON PROBLEM & SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN A SAFETY RECALL. & I WANT TO HAVE SAFE WORKING SEAT BELTS WHEN WE DO GET TO DRIVE THIS TRUCK & NOT SURE WHAT TO DO? THEN THE WIPER MODULE PULSE BOARD IS THE OTHER ISSUE. HAVE REPLACED ALL OTHER PARTS EXCEPT THIS ONE & CAN NOT FIND THE SAME PART THAT WAS ORIG ON THIS TRUCK & ALL OTHERS WE HAVE SEARCHED & BOUGHT DOES… Look up ODI 10554748 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 10445946 THE BRAKE LINES, AND FUEL LINES UNDERNEATH RUNNING ALONG THE FRAME ARE ALL SEVERELY RUSTED AND NEED REPLACEMENT.. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL LEAKS, AND IT CONTINUES TO CAUSE PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF COMMISSION IN A SERVICE BAY GETTING NEW BRAKE LINES.. *TT Look up ODI 10445946 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 809041 DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE ,PROCESS OF CHANGING LANES APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, VEHICLE AHEAD CAME TO A STOP, SLAMMED ON BRKES AND IT DID NOT STOP. ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT CHATTER ,RAN INTO OTHE RVEHICLE. HAS HAD BRAKES REPLACED ONCE.VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR NOW. *AK Look up ODI 809041 at NHTSA ↗

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1995: 2 complaints · 1996: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1995	0	2	2
1996	0	1	1

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1995	1	1	0
1996	2	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

0 patterns with matching reports.

No narratives match the published patterns.